Phantom Ganon is a Mini-Boss that is encountered in The Wind Waker. Phantom Ganon is a ghost or demon-like incarnation of Ganon himself, and makes heavy use of its ability to fly or move around the arena with ease. Phantom Ganon appears twice throughout the duration of the game. The first appearance is during the second time through the Forsaken Fortress. The second appearance is when Link travels through Ganon's Tower at the end of the game.

Strategy (Forsaken Fortress)

Phantom Ganon holding a ball of light

To begin the battle, Phantom Ganon will fly high into the air a good distance away from Link. He will create a ball of light, and then toss it in Link's direction. Link can hit the ball back with the sword, and Phantom Ganon will answer with a hit of his own. This is a classic game of "tennis", the likes of which have also appeared in Ocarina of Time and Four Swords Adventures. As Link and Phantom Ganon hit the ball back and forth the speed of the ball will rapidly increase, so be careful that Link is not the one who ends up getting hit. After Phantom Ganon misses and is hit by the ball he will fall to ground. Link can then rush in and attack him with the sword before Phantom Ganon disappears.

Randomly, Phantom Ganon will also appear directly behind Link as an alternative attack method. A few seconds will before he attempts to use a spin attack on Link. This is Link's chance to simply attack him with the sword, or quickly target him and use a parry attack. After three cycles, Phantom Ganon will be defeated and leave Link alone for now.

Phantom Ganon hitting a ball of light at Link

Link hit the ball of light back at Phantom Ganon

Link using his sword to hit Phantom Ganon

Strategy (Ganon's Tower)

Phantom Ganon's sword pointing to the next room

This version of Phantom Ganon isn't too different from when Link fought him in the Forsaken Fortress. The main change here is not necessarily with the battle, but that Link must follow the hints Phantom Ganon gives to progress through this Maze. After successfully attacking Phantom Ganon he will drop his sword on the ground. The direction the hilt is pointing (the small part of the sword that Phantom Ganon holds) will show which door Link needs to go through. Upon entering through the correct door, Phantom Ganon will appear once again. If Link enters the incorrect door, then a particular type of lower difficulty enemy will appear. Otherwise, Link could also chose a separate incorrect room and be returned to the entrance of the maze.

Phantom Ganon and Link playing a game of tennis

Phantom Ganon possesses three attacks during this exploration. The first is a blue orb attack, which is a leftover from the first fight back in the Forsaken Fortress. He will also charge up a pink orb and release it at Link. This is a copy of one of Ganondorf's attacks from Ocarina of Time. If Link times a spin attack just right he can reflect it back to him like the blue orb. If it does hit Phantom Ganon it will instantly cause him to fall to the ground, unlike the blue orb which takes a little bit of tennis. Finally, Phantom Ganon has one last attack where Link will be encircled by a few different Phantom Ganons. The only way to tell which one is the real one is to know that the real one is always directly Link. No matter the time or how many times this attack has been produced, the real Phantom Ganon is always in the same place.

After entering the correct door six times from the entrance, Link will reach a final room which looks slightly different. After defeating Phantom Ganon in this final room the Light Arrows will appear in a chest. Continuing through the next door, Link will be transported back to the main chamber. Link can then take out the Light Arrows and shoot Phantom Ganon with one to destroy him for good.

Phantom Ganon using a few copies of himself to attack Link

Link using his sword to attack Phantom Ganon

Phantom Ganon charging up his pink orb attack

Phantom Ganon unleashing his pink orb attack

Link heading towards the chest with the Light Arrows

Link delivering the final blow to Phantom Ganon

Trivia

The second battle with Phantom Ganon can be skipped almost entirely, as the path through the maze is always the same. Start by heading through the door behind Link, then go left, straight, left, right, and straight. After following through each of these six rooms Link will wind up at the last room where the Light Arrows are located.